Allergy season is upon us again bringing about the usual symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, conjestion and often times itchy eyes. Oral anti-allergy medications such as Zyrec, Clariton, and Allegra can be very helpful in reducing many allergy symptoms by effectively drying up the mucous...
Ok, with everyone talking about Dry (NO alcohol) January, probably the last thing you want to read is an article on the eyeball benefits of taking a month off from partaking after the holiday libations so we will do our best to keep this entertaining...
As Seen on TV! And many magazines and other publications! It appears that Big Pharma loves to advertise and with the high cost of TV time, one can probably assume that the most advertised medications are the most expensive. Granted, most of these medications are...
Meibomian glands are tiny oil glands that line your upper and lower lid margins. Their role is to release oil onto the surface of your eye to help keep your eye moisturized. It is very common for these glands to become plugged leading to decreased...
You may have recently read or seen a news report regarding a recall of eyedrops that have been linked to drug-resistant bacterial infections. We wanted to help answer any questions you may have and inform you further on the findings of this report. The CDC...
Eyes Watering? Underlying Dry Eye Could Be the Cause Epiphora: Excessive watering of the eyes. As ironic as it may seem, one of the most common causes of a watering, tearful, running eye is underlying eye dryness. Generally speaking, your lacrimal (tear) system produces two...
Eyes Dry and Burning with Extended Screen Time/Computer Work? The vast majority of people today spend at least two to four (sometimes 20!) hours of their day mesmerized by a computer or other screen or phone. Concentrating on these devices and other close-up objects induces...
Dry Eyes and Lubrication Drops, Which Drop is Best for You? Dry eye season is upon us. Your eyes may be burning, gritty, watering, or irritated. You head to the local drug store only to find the eye drop section is overwhelming with hundreds of...
Simple answer: Thoroughness. You could stop reading here but hope you continue on…. When it comes to pupils, size does matter. An important part of a thorough eye examination involves viewing the inside of your eyes and examination though small pupils often provides...
It's hard to believe it was 25 years ago when Kirby Puckett suddenly lost vision in one eye, leading to his retirement from baseball. To this day, we still have patients requesting eye examinations for sole purpose of making sure they don't have the Kirby...
What is a Watering Eye? Epiphora is a common condition in which tears cannot exit the eye and pour over the eyelids causing a watering eye. Signs and Symptoms of a Watering Eye Common symptoms of the epiphora are tears running over the eyelids, dermatitis...
What is Conjunctivitis? One of the most common questions I have heard over the years is “Dr. Steve, do I have pink eye?” Ironically, the patient usually has blazing pink/red, swollen eyes so the diagnosis from my perspective is fairly obvious: Of course it’s pink...
What are Eye Allergies? Eye Allergies are a very common type of conjunctivitis. They are not contagious and vary greatly in their severity. Signs and Symptoms of Eye Allergies The most common symptoms of eye allergies are itching, swelling, and redness of the eyes. There may...
What is a Foreign Body in the Eye? Just as the name suggests, a foreign body in the eye is a particle, material, or substance that is not supposed to be there. Signs and Symptoms of a Foreign Body in the Eye Symptoms of a...
What are Floaters and Flashes of Light in Your Vision? Floaters and flashes of light in your vision are in most cases a normal age-related process which are a simple annoyance. However, in some cases they can be signs of serious retinal problems which need...
What Causes Eye Pain? Eye Pain can be caused by a variety of disorders. Some can be very simple and some can be very dangerous. Eye pain usually involves pain of the orbital tissues (eyelids or tissues around the eye) or pain of the eyeball...
What is Dry Eye? Dry eye is a condition in which your eyes do not produce enough tears to properly lubricate the ocular surface. Dry eye affects millions of people worldwide and is one of the most common reasons patients visit an Optometrist. Without proper...
What is a Corneal Abrasion? A corneal abrasion or scratched cornea is a painful condition in which the top layers of the cornea are damaged by trauma to the eye. With proper treatment, corneal abrasions heal quickly. However, if treatment is delayed, infections and vision...
What is Presbyopia? Past the age of 40, we all have loss of near vision like death and taxes. This process is called presbyopia. For doctor and patient alike, presbyopia can be a very frustrating condition as there are no complete fixes or cures. Although...
What is Myopia? Myopia is a common “refractive error.” Since no eye is perfect, everyone has a refractive error which could be nearsighted, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia or a combination of all of them. Myopia implies that the patient is sighted more for near objects and can’t see distance objects...
Snow Blindness (the “B-Word)…is it a Real Thing? Eye doctors are terrified of “B word” (blindness) and we don’t use it lightly as it implies complete, permanent vision loss that gives us nightmares. However, urban legend inventors, those trying to sell you a news...
Blue Emitted from Your Computer and Other Devices and Its Effect on Your Eyes The vast majority the population today uses some sort of a light-emitting device (LED) such as a computer, laptop, iPhone, android, workbook, television, etc. for many hours per day. Many of...
Scleral contact lenses have become the lens of choice for treating keratoconus and other corneal conditions not correctable with glasses or standard contact lenses. However, scleral lenses can also provide great comfort and vision in the treatment of a variety of eye conditions as well...
Strabismus is a condition in which one eye does not track with the other eye (crossed eye). It may be constant or intermittent and may alternate between the eyes. Signs and Symptoms of Strabismus The most common symptom of strabismus is one eye turning in...
Dr. Steven Reinders, owner and optometrist of Complete Family Eyecare explains how to choose “cheater” eyeglasses. As long as your eyes are healthy (your eye doctor will give you a thorough eye exam once a year), it is ok to buy some inexpensive reading glasses...
What is Restasis? Restasis is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drop used for treatment of chronic dry eye which cannot be controlled by lubrication drops or other dry eye therapies. Restasis works on the principal that dry eye is caused by inflamed tear producing glands on the inner...
What is Blepharitis? Blepharitis is a common condition in which the eyelids become chronically inflamed and irritated. Blepharitis can cause corneal scarring and vision loss if left untreated. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BLEPHARITIS Symptoms of blepharitis vary with the severity of conditions but usually include:...
What is Diabetic Retinal Disease? With the recent increased incidence of diabetes in the general population, the potential for serious vision loss due to diabetes has increased also. Diabetes can cause several ocular complications and the most vision threatening complication is diabetic retinopathy (disease of...
Why Wear Sunglasses? Sunglasses protect not only your eyes from the sun but also protect your eyelids and surrounding skin tissue. The sun emits massive amounts of ultraviolet (UV) radiation which causes premature skin cell death as well as damage to skin cell DNA. This...
What is Computer Eyestrain? With millions of people using computers on a regular basis, many patients are experiencing eye problems associated with extended computer use. Computers do not hurt your eyes but they are definitely work for your eyes to do. Eyestrain, tired eyes, dry...
The inability to see properly at night or in lowlight conditions affects everyone to some extent. This can be particularly noticeable while driving in the winter season with short days and long evening hours. Poor weather conditions as well as glare and light scatter off...
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a common refractive error such as myopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Signs and Symptoms of Farsightedness As the name implies, patients with hyperopia are sighted more for far than they are for things up close. They require extra accommodation or focusing effort...
Astigmatism is a common refractive error (glasses need) and is often associated with other refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia and presbyopia. Astigmatism is not a disease process and we all have it in varying amounts. Signs and Symptoms of Astigmatism Patients with mild astigmatism may not experience any...
Inside of your eye, directly by the pupil, sits a small lens about the size of a plain M&M. This lens is responsible for focusing light on the retina in the back of the eye. Any clouding of this lens is called a cataract. Signs...
The cornea is the clear skin tissue that composes the outermost layer of the eye. It is responsible for bending the light that enters the eye. Keratoconus is a slow, progressive, thinning of the cornea which causes blurred vision. It is 10 times more common...
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases in which the optic nerve that transmits the eye’s image to the brain is under pressure greater than what is can withstand. This pressure damages the nerve causing permanent vision loss. Dr Steve Reinders of Complete Family Eyecare...
The Iris is the colored part of the eye and its primary function is to control the amount of light entering the eye by regulating the size of the pupil. Iritis is a condition in which our body’s immune system gets confused and attacks the...
Age-Related Macular Degeneration Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD) the leading cause of blindness in the United States. Advancements in medical technology and health awareness have significantly lengthened the average lifespans of Americans and others living in developed countries. This longevity is a “double-edged sword” as...
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) is a “refractive surgery” procedure which means that its purpose is to reduce a patient’s refractive error or glasses need. PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a similar type of refractive surgery but is not as common as LASIK surgery. What Types of...
Lazy Eye or Amblyopia is a condition in which one or both eyes cannot achieve 20/20 vision even with glasses. It occurs in children and requires prompt treatment as soon as it is diagnosed or the vision loss will be permanent. Signs and Symptoms of...
A retinal detachment is a separation of the retinal tissue from the back of the eye and is an ocular emergency. Signs and Symptoms of a Retinal Detachment The primary symptoms of retinal detachment is a sudden onset of lightning streaks in the peripheral vision...
A headache accompanied by temporary loss of vision in one eye characterizes an ocular migraine, typically lasting for less than an hour. Signs and Symptoms of an Ocular Migraine Symptoms of an ocular migraine are called auras which can present as a variety of disturbances...
Progressive lenses are lineless, invisible, multifocal eyeglass lenses which allow patients to see distance, midrange, and near vision without having to constantly change eyeglasses to see different ranges. What are the Signs and Symptoms that I Need Progressive Lenses? The most common sign of needing...
A Stye is an inflamed or infected or clogged eyelid gland. Signs and Symptoms of a Stye The most common symptom of a sty is a red painful bump on the inside or the outside of the eyelid. Crusting of the eyelashes and conjunctivitis are often associated...
Arthritis is a common condition in which your body’s immune system mistakes your joints as foreign or dangerous tissue and “sends in the troops” to attack the joint and surrounding tissue. Your immune system is essentially your body’s police force with the task of...
Eyes Watering from the Winter Weather? The Burn and Sting of Dry Eye Season is early this year! Winter has started early this year bringing below normal temps to our already frigid state and colder temperatures usually equate to low humidity. Furnaces, fireplaces,...
Recently, there have been many advertisements for Lumify, which is a new eye whitening drop on the market. Does it work? The simple answer is yes, but with caution.
Can’t see up close? Tired of Bifocals or Cheaters? Contacts Lenses can be an option for better near vision For those of us who are getting “less young,” the loss of near vision (presbyopia) can be one of the most frustrating parts of the aging...
New Medical Device to Measure Eye Pressure for Glaucoma - without eyedrops Several different devices are in use for measuring eye pressure for those who have glaucoma or for glaucoma testing at routine eye examinations and screenings. Some devices such as the dreaded...
Amniotic Tissue Membrane use in treating corneal problems and dry eye Amniotic tissue membranes (ATM) have been shown to have numerous uses in wound healing and prevention of scar tissue on the eye and other parts of the body. ATM is harvested from placenta of...
Signs and Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis affecting your eyes. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is “demyelinating” condition in which the immune system attacks the myelin cells that insulate the nerves ending. Loss of these myelin cells then causes a slowing of the electrical...
Understanding Vision Insurance. The term "vision insurance" is commonly used to describe health plans designed to reduce your costs for routine preventive eye exams, prescription eyewear and Contact Lenses. Most vision insurance plans are discount plans that provide...
Cold Sore in the Eye? Can that really happen? YES! Most people hear the word “herpes” and immediately think sexually transmitted disease. However there are different types of herpes viruses. Cold sores are caused by Herpes Simplex (HSV) Type 1 whereas sexually...
Preventing eye injuries from fireworks. Celebrating Independence day (aka: the 4th of July) in America is an exciting time filled with backyard barbecues, bonfires, boating, and beautiful firework displays. Even though we will be enjoying the holiday in many...
Loss of an Eye and Replacement with Prosthetic (Glass) Eye. The loss of an eye can be a devesting event for a patient. From a visual perspective, adapting to only one functional eye can be very challenging and equally if not more challenging from a...
Stay safe in the sun! National Sunglasses Day is June 27th! This is a great time to think about getting new prescription polarized sunglasses. When it comes to buying sunglasses, please take the time and make sure to get the pair that fit you the...
Uses for Donated Eye Tissue Being an organ donor is a very worthy and noble act which can greatly enhance if not save the life of someone in need of an organ. As morbid as it may seem, human eyes are routinely “harvested” at the...
A “routine eye examination” provides an overall eye health evaluation for diagnosis of eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, etc. It will also determine a patient’s “refractive error” or combination of lenses to maximize your vision. Those numbers are your glasses prescription.
Malignant Melanoma in the Eye Malignant Ocular Melanoma is the most common form of eye cancer and affects about one in every 130,000 people. It is most common in light eyed males between 45 and 55 years old. Unlike skin malignant melanoma, there has been...
Blue light from your computer and device causing your eyestrain and pain? Shut off the blue and make your eyes happier! Any light emitting device including your phone, TV, laptop, Ipad, etc, gives off lots of blue light which has been shown to be the...
Sleep Apnea and Glaucoma Do you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)? You may not know that if left untreated it can lead to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart attach and stroke. This sleep disorder can also lead to vision loss from...
Transitions Lenses Many people wonder if Transitions lenses are right for them. One benefit of these lenses is that you can go from inside to outside and not have to look for your prescription sunglasses in your car, purse, briefcase, etc. Its a seamless transition...
Eyelids Twitching? Its Myokymia. A myokymia is an involuntary spasm of tiny muscles in the eyelid. Many patients report that they see the skin shaking or that it feels like there is an insect under their eyelid. Myokymia’s are a very common and almost always...
Understanding your vision. Everyone throws around the 20/20 or 20/ whatever number for their vision but few people outside us eyeball geeks really understand what 20/20 means so here is how it works. This system of measuring vision was invented by Herman Snellen (eye...
Tips to help with your eye allergies Try to avoid or limit your exposure to the primary causes of your eye allergies. In the spring and summer, pollen from trees and grasses are the usual suspects. Ragweed pollen is the biggest culprit in late summer...
We ran our Enchroma color deficiency test for 8 straight weeks. Inviting people to come into the clinic and try on the Enchroma glasses and take our color blind test and here are the results from our Enchroma color deficient sunglasses test: From a subjective...
Importance of Buying Quality Sunglasses for Performance and Eye Health As the weather gets warmer and snow melts away, we are inspired to take our workouts to the outdoors. For many people, that means walking, running, biking or other outdoor activities that will...
The Peak of Dry Eye Season Is Here. Eyes burning, watering, dry, blurry? Cold, low humidity, conditions during the winter time can lead to increasing amounts of dry eye. Furnaces and space heaters are running, heat vents in your car are blowing in your face....
Preventing Macular Degeneration If you are in your 30's or 40's you most likely aren't thinking about age related eye diseases or preventing them. However macular degeneration does typically run in the family so if you have a parent that has this then you should...
Glasses to Treat Color Blindness? Do they really work?? Recently there’ve been many advertisements and YouTube videos for Enchroma colorblindness glasses. At this time, we are not endorsing this product, but have purchased a pair for all of our patients to try at no...
Why is Vikings coach Zimmer now wearing safety glasses? While watching the unbelievable Minnesota Vikings Miracle game, I noticed coach Zimmer wearing what appeared to be safety glasses instead of his usual readers. Why now would he be wearing safety glasses after...
Here are the top 10 reasons to support your local ma and pop stores. It is so important this time of year to remember the importance of supporting local businesses when you do your holiday shopping. I know its very convenient to shop big box...
Dr. Steve has blepharoplasty! Aging is inevitable and often results in everything drooping – including eyelids. Recently Dr. Steve noticed his eyelid skin drooping down over his eyelashes and obscuring his vision.This surgical procedure is called blepharoplasty....
Children's toys to avoid for Christmas gifts this December. December is here! Crazy right? Christmas is in 24 days... Many people are out there trying to figure out the best toys to give to their kids this December. One thing to remember when buying toys...
Thanksgiving is just a few days away... Crazy to think how fast this Fall has gone and that the holidays are actually here... No matter how you celebrate this holiday or who you are with one thing we know for certain is that we ALL...
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working age people in America. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, approximately 29 million Americans age 20 or older have diabetes, but almost one-third don’t know they have the disease and are at risk for vision...
Eye Examinations before 2018! Please do not wait till the end of December to have your annual eye examinations. I have talked to so many people lately that haven't had their eyes checked for 2 or more years, The last person I spoke to had...
Its hunting season again! Time to break out those hunting clothes and get those guns ready, but first before you do that, think twice about the camouflage or blaze orange that you plan on wearing. Why? Because you would be surprised at what deer can...
There are many companies trying to sell or taut various eye vitamins that claim to help prevent or decrease the progression of various eye conditions such as age related macular degeneration. Please click here to watch a video on prevention of AMD. The most important...
In keeping up with the most advanced technology and providing our patients with the best care, we recently purchased and installed an Optical Coherence Tomography (who comes up with these names??) or OCT in our clinic. This test that can help Dr. Steve diagnose and...
Halloween Specialty Contact Lenses Safety Concerns Every October our office receives several requests regarding prescriptions for specialty Halloween contact lenses which come in some crazy colors and evil designs. This brings up contact lens safety concerns as all...
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive deterioration of the central vision which is due to the aging of the macula. The macula is the very center of the retina and is responsible for detailed central vision. It is only about 3 mm across. For...
Early Diagnosis of Cataracts Cataracts are fully treatable with surgery. The medical necessity for an early diagnosis is not as crucial as it is for Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration. Everyone past the age of 50 has cataracts to some extent. However, they can also...
Did you know that September is Healthy Eye Aging Month? As we age our vision and eyes change and it is very important to continue with your annual comprehensive eye exam so Dr. Steve can perform tests to detect early signs of vision loss due...
8 Warning signs of vision problems in children If your child has an uncorrected or un-diagnosed vision problem, it could severely affect his or her development because 80% of what children learn is taught visually. Consistently sitting close to the TV or holding a...